Imli, sister restaurant of the Michelin starred Tamarind of Mayfair, has re-opened as Imli Street, serving a unique menu inspired by Indian Street cuisines in its newly refurbished and re-branded space in Soho.
Set across two floors, the new design of the Wardour St. site is that of a New York or Shoreditch loft space appealing to a chic clientele. With a stylish bar, a selection of signature cocktails and an exciting menu, Imli Street is set to become a go-to Soho destination.
The ground floor has been transformed into a bright, fashionable and comfortable space overlooking the hustle and bustle of Soho with a buzzing dining room and discreet back area for private parties. The downstairs area with exposed brickwork and cool, contemporary furnishings provides laidback seating and a relaxed ambiance.
The menu has been crafted based on four distinct inspirations from the Indian street food arena.
Coastal Shacks: A celebration of India’s vast coastline and her beach-fronts.
Food Carts/ Dhaba’s: A tribute to the Roadside/ highway and street stalls that have created urban legends.
Railway Cuisine: Making the journey the destination. Food is a big part of the journey and most railway stations are famous for their iconic dishes
Beyond Borders: An encomium to the sub-continent’s and other countries’ influences that significantly contributed to India’s continued culinary evolution and repertoire.
Imli Street’s eclectic food concept has been developed by Tamarind Collection’s multi-award winning Director of Cuisine, Alfred Prasad. He said: “I am incredibly excited by the launch of Imli Street and having the opportunity to showcase many new and lesser known facets of Indian cuisine. We have created a menu which is fun, accessible and reflective of the multi layered diversitiy across India. A great deal of research has gone into it and many of the dishes deeply resonate with my own life and experiences in India.’.
Rajesh Suri, CEO of the Tamarind Collection, said: “Following our acquistion of Zaika of Kensington earlier this year, the launch of Imli Street signifies the next phase in Tamarind Collection’s business strategy of brand development and expansion within the Indian dining sector both in the UK and Internationally.”
The 130-seat venue will be open 7 days a week for breakfast and all-day dining. A combination of traditional Indian and continental breakfasts will be served from 8am to 11:30am followed by the all-day menu. Reservations can be made for groups of 6 or more.
Watch a video of the new Imli Street
For information click here
167-169 Wardour St, London, W1F 8WR
About the Tamarind Collection
Since opening nearly 20 years ago, the Collection has won the hearts of Londoners with its flagship restaurant in the capital – Tamarind of Mayfair, which has the distinction of being the first Indian restaurant in Europe to have been recognised with a Michelin star and remains as one of only six on the continent to hold the accolade. Entering its eighteenth year, Tamarind of Mayfair is hosted in a perfect location with food of the finest quality, thanks to the creativity and dynamism of the Collection’s Director Cuisine and Executive Chef, Alfred Prasad. A hotspot for a host of high profile regulars such as Sir Elton John, Tom Cruise, Alicia Keyes and many more, Tamarind of Mayfair has rightly earned its status as the destination for traditional Indian cuisine.
In 2011, Tamarind Collection launched its first venture across the pond: Tamarind of London in Newport Beach, California. The restaurant offers American diners a taste of Tamarind’s Classics with a subtle balance of Californian influences to the menu. In it’s first year, Tamarind of London was awarded ‘Best Indian Cuisine’ at the 2012 Golden Foodie Awards.
Zaika of Kensington was welcomed into the Tamarind Collection in November 2012 as the fourth brand in the portfolio. Located in the heart of Kensington, opposite Kensington Gardens, the word ‘Zaika’ translates quite literally as ‘sophisticated flavours’ and this is the ethos behind the innovative menu. With an emphasis on refined, creative and contemporary Indian cuisine, the menu incorporates traditional classic favourites, presented with poetry in the plate and for the palate.